Herbs & Medicinal जड़ी-बूटियाँ
Complete growing encyclopedias for 25 Indian herbs and medicinal plants — from mint to ashwagandha. Growing, harvesting, drying and medicinal uses.
25 Indian herbs और medicinal plants की complete encyclopedia — mint से ashwagandha तक। Growing, harvesting, drying और medicinal uses।
25 Edibles
Neem Leaves
नीम के पत्ते / निम्ब
Azadirachta indica
Neem Leaves — "Village pharmacy" tree. Datun = toothbrush (clinically equal!). Ugadi tradition = pharmacology. AVOID pregnancy (abortifacient). 150-200 year tree. Zero inputs, zero pests.
🌱 June-July from seed or seedling | Large tree needs open ground
⏱️ Young pale green tips year-round | Spring flush (March-April) = best drying
Chamomile / Babune ka Phool
कैमोमाइल / बबूने का फूल
Matricaria chamomilla (German — most medicinal) | Chamaemelum nobile (Roman)
Chamomile — seeds need LIGHT to germinate (don't cover!). Petals flat = harvest now. Sleep +15%, Anxiety = lorazepam comparable (26 weeks). Shade dry flowers. Ragweed allergy: test first.
🌱 October-November | Seeds need LIGHT to germinate — DO NOT COVER with soil!
⏱️ First flowers: 6-8 weeks | Harvest TWICE weekly (petals flat = peak)
Lavender
लैवेंडर / लैवंग पुष्प
Lavandula angustifolia (English) | L. × intermedia (lavandin hybrid)
Lavender — J&K Bhaderwah = India's lavender country! ALKALINE soil (unusual!). Overwatering kills. Anxiety = lorazepam comparable. Plains India: partial success. Hills: spectacular.
🌱 From cuttings (seeds variable) | Sept-Oct or March-April | ALKALINE soil!
⏱️ Half flowers open = peak harvest | Perennial 10-15 years | Never cut old wood
Lemon Balm / Melissa
लेमन बाम / मेलिसा
Melissa officinalis
Lemon Balm — improves memory AND reduces anxiety simultaneously (unique herb!). FRESH = 50%+ more potent than dried. Container always (like mint). Thyroid medication: monitor. Bee magnet.
🌱 Cuttings or seed | Sept-Oct or Feb-March | ALWAYS container (like mint — spreads)
⏱️ First: 4-6 weeks | FRESH dramatically better than dried (50%+ volatile loss)
Chives / Hari Pyaz
चाइव्स / हरी प्याज़ (छोटी)
Allium schoenoprasum (chives) | A. tuberosum (garlic chives — better India!)
Chives — garnish provides 177% Vitamin K per 100g (eat it don't push aside!). Purple flowers edible. Garlic chives: better India heat. Same clump regrows forever. Cut, never pull.
🌱 Oct-Nov or Feb-March | Seed or division | Garlic chives: better India year-round
⏱️ Cut to 3-5 cm above soil — regrows 2-3 weeks. Indefinitely from same clump.
Fennel / Saunf
सौंफ / मीठी सौंफ
Foeniculum vulgare (seed/herb) | F. vulgare var. azoricum (Florence/bulb)
Fennel / Saunf — restaurant saunf = pharmacology (not just courtesy!). Menstrual pain = ibuprofen (RCT). Entire plant edible. KEEP AWAY from dill. Allelopathic. Market seeds = free planting.
🌱 Oct-Nov or Feb-March DIRECT SOW | KEEP AWAY from dill! | Self-seeds forever
⏱️ Leaves: 6-8 weeks | Seeds: 4-5 months | Harvest green-grey (before dropping!)
Sage / Salvia
सेज / साल्विया
Salvia officinalis (common) | S. elegans (pineapple sage — better India!)
Sage — best memory herb (human RCT clinical!). Hot flash = 8-week RCT relief. Crispy sage ghee = extraordinary cooking. Limit strong tea (thujone). AVOID pregnancy. Pineapple sage: better India.
🌱 From cuttings | Sept-Oct or Feb-March | Pineapple sage: more heat tolerant India
⏱️ First: 8-10 weeks | Perennial 5-10 years | Limit strong tea — thujone caution
Showing 7 of 25 edibles
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